Getting your master’s degree in a healthcare administration field means that you’ll qualify for higher-paying jobs that give you more responsibilities and better benefits. The number one reason why those working in this industry choose to not go back to school is the expense. To get your MHA, MPH, or Healthcare MBA, you’ll have to spend at least one or two years as full-time student, and even with online schools, tuition and related costs can be astronomical. So how can you raise the money to go back to school? For many students, scholarships make advanced education possible.

Scholarships are a great source of money because they don’t have to be repaid, as is the case with student loans. In addition, they work well for healthcare administrators because they’re given based on merit, rather than financial need. If you’re currently working in the healthcare field, you might not qualify for certain grants or loan programs, since you’re making a full-time income. Scholarships make it possible to get money for school, which is necessary for many students who need to support families at the same time and can’t afford to quit their jobs.

So what scholarship programs are available? The following organizations could have programs to help you get your advanced degree:

• National Health Service Corps: These scholarships are available to US students who are pursing healthcare degrees as master’s students. You might qualify for not just tuition, but also a monthly living stipend.

• The Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions Scholarship of Excellence: Every Allied Health school can nominate one student for this scholarship, so if you go to any of those schools, you can qualify for this scholarship.

In addition, a number of schools offer scholarships directly to their students. Schools typically offer a few different types of scholarships for master’s degrees students. Fellowships work just like scholarships do for bachelor’s degree students, though often include a stipend to help pay for living costs. Research assistantships and teaching assistantships, on the other hand have master’s degree students do upper-level research in their field or teach undergraduate classes in exchange for free tuition. These also sometimes include a stipend. Fellowships are obviously the best funding source, since you can focus fully on your education with this kind of scholarship, as opposed to research and teaching assistantships, where you have to spend time working to qualify for the money.

Scholarships aren’t your only source of funding if you want to get your MHA, MPH, or Healthcare MBA. In addition to grants and loans, you can also check out tuition programs available from your employers. If you’re currently working in the healthcare field, your employer may have funds available to employees who want to get advanced degrees. Although master’s degree education can be expensive, with the financial aid available, you shouldn’t completely count out going back to school for an advanced degree.



Individuals looking for work in healthcare administration will do well to earn a graduate level degree in a relevant program of study. Many online universities offer fully accredited master's degree programs in general health or specializations within the healthcare field. While the MHA is very popular, students should also consider MS degrees within different healh-related specializations or the Master of Public Health degree.

Master of Health Administration MHA - Gerontology MHA - Health Education MHA - Health Informatics	University of Phoenix — From the nation's largest online university comes an MHA degree program that is geared toward healthcare professionals looking to advance in their careers. The online programs of study from the University of Phoenix are delivered in a flexible and affordable format, making Phoenix a top choice for many students.
MS in Health Communication	Boston University — Boston University has a long tradition of academic excellence. (The fact that it was founded in 1839 makes it one of the oldest universities in the nation to offer online degrees.) Their master's degree in health communication promotes leadership in the fields of healthcare, marketing, and crisis management.
Master of Health Administration Master of Public Health	Walden University — The Master of Health Administration degree from Walden University is a practice-oriented online degree program that addresses the best practices and core competencies of the health administrator profession. Upon graduation from this program, career options include health care supplies, health policy organizations, health providers, and more.
MBA - Healthcare Management	Northeastern University — The online MBA in healthcare management program offered at Northeastern University is designed to provide a solid foundation in business enterprise while simultaneously sharpening knowledge within the healthcare profession. Students of this program will be well prepared for many career challenges in the healthcare industry.
MBA in Healthcare	George Washington University — The Master of Business Administration in healthcare program from George Washington University is a program based on the ideals of global business, leadership, and healthcare ethics. This program, which comprises 23 core and 12 elective courses, can be completed in two years.
Master of Health Administration	Ohio University — Ohio University offers an online MHA degree program that is designed to prepare healthcare professionals for leadership positions within contemporary healthcare organizations. Since this program is delivered entirely online, students are able to work toward their degree from their home or office while continuing to build their careers.
MS - Health Admin Master of Public Health MPH - Health Management MS in Gerontology	Capella University — The MS in healthcare administration degree from Capella University can be earned online while continuing work within the field. Students of this particular specialization will study a wide range of healthcare topics, including management, managed care, finance, quality imrpovement, and law, to name a few.
MS in Health Admin	New England College — The MS in healthcare administration program offered by New England College comprises nine courses and 36 credit-hours of study. Part-time students taking one class every seven weeks can finish this program within two years.
MS - Healthcare Management MBA - Healthcare Management MPH - Development MPH - Health Education	Kaplan University — Kaplan University offers an MBA in healthcare management that comprises 60 quarter credit hours of study. Students of this program will develop the leadership, innovation, and corporate responsibility knowledge and skills required of a professional in the healthcare sector.
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